Many Newcastle fans have hit back at Ralph Hassenhutl after he seemed to blast the club despite coming out as 2-1 losers.

The Southampton boss said that “only my team were playing football” as the Toon’s rigid set up seemed too great to overcome once again.

Speaking to the press following Saints’ 2-1 loss to the Magpies, Hassenhutl said (via the Chronicle): “I don’t know what my opponent [Steve Bruce] said before he was here, and I don’t know how he saw the game, but I saw only my team playing football to be honest.

“We didn’t get three points but that’s football sometimes, they had two chances and got the goals.

“That’s sometimes a pity but if we look on the three performances this week, two wins at home, and a brave game away from home, maybe our best of the season, I must be proud of how the players played.

“When the opponent was really struggling, they tried to play the long balls to [Andy] Carroll and that isn’t easy to defend as everybody knows he is 10 feet tall.”

With the Chronicle posting the article to its followers on Twitter, many fans had their verdict on the Austrian’s comments, with lots suggesting that they didn’t think the comments were fair – as you can read below…

At least we’ll never get beat 9-0

— A lost Geordie (@geordiedoonhere) December 8, 2019

Says the guy who’s route 1 got their goal pots n kettles

— Les Johnstone (@Madmagpie852075) December 8, 2019

I was there and I thought Southampton were shocking. If he calls passing it about amongst themselves at the back and time wasting at every opportunity ‘playing football’ then no wonder they are where they are in the table

— Mr Anonymous (@Cobcob84) December 8, 2019

Whing whinge whinge. Fact is they scored once, we scored twice. Thank you, NEXT

— Scott (@Devanny933) December 8, 2019

mmm

My verdict.
Only one team got 3 points.
Dry your eyes Hassenhutl.

— Andy Hornsby (@AndyHornsby72) December 8, 2019

It’s called effective play, doesn’t have to be pretty #sourgrapes

— Layton Leadbitter (@LaytonGL1991) December 8, 2019

Yesterday’s win rounded off a fantastic week for Bruce and his team as they managed to get seven points from three games against Manchester City, Sheffield United and of course Saints.

Remarkably, it now puts Bruce’s side just two points away from fifth in the league and also seven points away from relegation, giving them a little bit of breathing space as we head into the Christmas period.

Another classy performance from Jonjo Shelvey was the catalyst in the Magpies’ second consecutive win of the week, now taking his overall goal tally to five for the campaign.

Newcastle face Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Newcastle fans – do you think you deserved your win on the weekend? Let us know in the comments below.

This article was originally posted here